Wyoming Breezes

Lake Towada Northern Japan 1980 Previous posts with photos of Lake Towada can be seen  here .

Pastel Blocks Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started May 2013 This blanket was started with Four-Leaf Clover 's empty needles. Caron Simply Soft (Soft Green) and Seed Stitch blocks. I am requesting the other knitters use pastel yarns and knit a block pattern in each section. Update: November 5, 2013

Size 6 and size 10 socks I promise this is the last time, I'll post these socks . The second pair (shown on the left) was knit for a good friend with tiny feet: they were a much faster knit than my pair.

Circus Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started February 2013 The circus has come to town! Circus is a bright and happy blanket. Since I didn't have any variegated yarn, I reversed the color sequence of the blanket's second section as well as a variety of stitches in my four-inch section. Update : July 14, 2013

Stirring the pot of boiling crawfish, potatoes, corn, and sausage Saturday evening I attended a crawfish boil with my sister and brother-in-law - the second time I've been privileged to experience this typical Cajun meal with them. The first time, a few years ago, I was clueless how to peel or even eat the crawfish. Spreading the steaming meal on a paper-covered table Our hosts (the man in the apron and the woman in the pink sweater) taste the first crawfish  A tasty cajun meal.  Yes, I definitely went back for more.

Rice plant northern Japan 1980 Rice paddies were common sites in northern Japan. Previous posts can be seen here . In Japan, rice is served with nearly every meal and is usually sticky so it can be easily eaten with chopsticks. electric rice cooker source Prior to living in Japan, I did not eat much rice, but once I discovered the electric rice cooker in a Japanese department store, I was a convert. Perfect rice every time; no fuss and no mess. Tanya  (who lives in Japan) recently wrote a post about a class field trip to the rice fields in her area. Read her post about Rice Planting Class  here .

Baby Sherbet Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started March 2013 I added a Caron Simply Soft (Sunshine) section, using the Box Stitch . Update : July 14, 2013

My bright, rainbow socks are finished. I love how they look, and they were a lot of fun to knit. I've started the second pair already, too. This yarn was not included in the sock yarn count because it was already being used.

Late summer is traditionally a time for local fairs, and this year is the 100 anniversary of the Fremont County Fair. To celebrate the anniversary, the Fremont County Fiber Guild is encouraging members to select a vintage pattern (over 50 years old) and to make something for a special display. Guild members may enter two vintage-inspired items for a "People's Choice" award. source I want to eventually use whatever I knit, so  this pattern , which the site states is from an unknown Australian newspaper (1940s to 1950s), was selected. Needles: two circulars - size 1 Thread: 100% cotton (number 20)

Last week, Nancy and I went to Lander for an abridged performance of Romeo and Juliet , presented by a group of students from the University of Wyoming. While we waited for the group to warm up, we strolled through the public library and found a clever display prepared for National Poetry Month . Nancy checks out the display board (note that it looks a Frigidaire) Here are some of the clever poems that we found stuck on the Frigidaire: The next two were by far the most creative, and if I wasn't retired, it would be a clever way to encourage teenagers to experiment with poetry. Adding a bit of "art" to the poetry - very clever!

Nancy at Lake Towada Towada, Japan September 1979 I fell in love with the area surrounding Lake Towada because of its ever-changing scenery. The mists that hung over the lake on some days created breath-taking views. To see what the lake looked like on a clear day click here .

Finished but not laundered or blocked Mitered Square Baby Blanket Knit on size 8 needles Cast on 252 stitches 31 inches square 19.5 ounces of yarn Previous post with more details here

cousins sleeping under the stars approximately 1955 or 1956 The farm house had three bedrooms, so guests often slept on a roll-away bed in the living room. The roll-away was stored in my parents' closet for such occasions. Later, my mother purchased a sofa bed. Neither was too comfortable. It wasn't typical for the roll-away to be placed outside, so the cousins must have wanted to "sleep under the stars." My sister, Marilyn, is the girl on the bottom right in the photo. I think the other girls were our cousins who lived in Lance Creek, Wyoming and later in Brush, Colorado. Maybe Marilyn will leave a comment and add some information. Throughout my childhood, my two sisters and I slept together in a double bed. The bedroom was small and didn't have a closet until I was in high school. Before that, we hung our clothes on the back of the bedroom door and shared a small dresser.

The color of socks I knit are usually predictable - blue, gray, or purple, yet when I saw the Socky-Go-Lucky kit featured on the Simply Socks blog , I fell in love with the bright colors and quickly ordered the kit. These socks have been a blast to knit and will be fun to wear, too. Plus, the kit had enough yarn to make two pair, so it's double the fun! Have you shaken things up and done any unpredictable crafting lately?

Jelly Beans Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started January 2013 My mailbox was stuffed with Oddball Baby Blankets this week: I received Jelly Beans , Four-Leaf Clover , and Tulip Festival in quick succession. Jelly Beans ' colors were assigned to the knitters. The final section (white) was mine. I used the old stand-by, Checks and Ridges stitch for this blanket. Update : June 7, 2013 * * * * * Four-Leaf Clover Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started February 2013 I was also the last knitter on Four-Leaf Clover . I decided to use Caron Simply Soft (Dark Sage) for my section, which I knit in the Single Chevron Stitch. Update : June 9, 2013 * * * * * Tulip Festival Western Region Oddball Baby Blanket started May 2013 My house was the second stop for Tulip Festival , which will be a garter-stitch blanket knit alternating green with a tulip color. I chose Caron Simply Soft (Yellow and Dark Sage) for my section. Update: February